Walking Dartmoor's Ancient Tracks

A guide to Dartmoor's important and hitherto uncharted historic tracks. Divided into two parts, it covers 16 trans-moorland tracks in its first part, and 12 inter-moorland tracks in its second part. It also features maps and illustrations for readers to follow in the steps of monks and others who established safe ways across the treacherous moor.

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This is the first paperback edition of the definitive guide to Dartmoor's most important and hitherto uncharted historic tracks. The moor's traditional travel routes have been shrouded in mystery and many of them were in danger of being lost altogether. Through meticulous research and intensive field work over decades to clarify doubtful portions of the routes, Eric Hemery, acknowledged as Dartmoor's leading writer, established the historical background to the 28 tracks described here. His painstaking study led him to take issue with the Ordinance Survey over such fictions as 'Abbot's Way' and 'Drizzlecombe' and he presents convincing arguments to support his findings. An important feature of track-routing throughout the book is the use of recorded evidence from experienced moormen, present and past, for route details. In every case such evidence was personally communicated to the author and may be regarded as irrefutable. Sixteen trans-moorland tracks occupy part 1 of the book and twelve inter-moorland tracks, part 2, many of which had not been previously researched before the first publication of this book.
Detailed maps and illustrations allow readers to follow in the steps of monks, merchants, tin miners and others who over the centuries established safe ways across the treacherous moor.